Want some words to describe Taurus? How about "laid back" and "easy going?" Taurus likes to mellow out, take life at a measured stride and on its own time schedule. What can I say? Taurus believes in conserving physical resources ... and "conserving" its own energy is first on the list. You just can't push these folks any faster than they have a mind to go. Either get used to it ... or decide to make antacids part of your daily life.

The image of the strong silent type -- especially the movie hero in old time westerns -- who simply could not be pushed off center, not in his personal habits nor in his stand on principle, was quintessentially a Taurus. These folks can take a lot of aggravation, guff, and problems, and handle challenges with patient fortitude, until something becomes the last straw ... and then the resulting tantrum leaves devastation as if a tornado cut a swath across the land.

When Taurus folks get mad, the show is spectacular. It's wise to take cover until the coast is really, really clear. Fortunately, with Taurus, such moments are rare. This sign sincerely wants life to be serene, pleasant, nice, steady, and stable.

Taurus people strike a leisurely pace, savoring the world's physical delights. The very idea of stopping to smell the roses is a supremely Taurus notion. No other sign may enjoy the sheer physical-ness of life more than Taurus. They love pretty colors, interesting textures, comfortable contours, intriguing and graceful shapes, delicious aromas, complex flavors, soothing and inspiring melodies, and their aesthetic tastes are astounding.

They need enough sheer beauty in their lives to operate properly. Surroundings that are dirty, cluttered, unpleasant, or simply unappealing ... can make a Taurus physically ill. And a Taurus who keeps a mess around him is showing signals of serious problems -- emotionally, mentally, spiritually ... and eventually physically.

Taurus is a homebody at heart. He (or she) loves a dependable, familiar setting, where he can kick back in comfort and not do anything he doesn't want to do. Not only does he hate being prodded into anything that wasn't first of all his idea (and even then, he'll get to it on his own timetable), changes of any kind disturb him. This sign likes to plan his future -- way far into the future, and then follow his plan.

Getting a Taurus to move faster or change his mind is a true encounter with the immovable object. Taurus makes obstinacy an art. It is the most fixed of the Fixed Signs (along with Aquarius, Scorpio, and Leo), and if you live with one (or need to get along with one) it helps to keep that in mind. You'll save yourself a lot of wear and tear.

Moreover, Taurus is the Fixed Earth sign, with literal connections to the land. Taurus has a mystical ability to commune with nature and the Earth as living spirits. Along with those peaceful, contemplative surroundings I mentioned, Taurus needs to spend time in nature -- out in the woods, up in the mountains, by a rushing river or a teeming trout lake, on a farm or ranch ... preferably in all these places.

Taurus also wants to own a piece of the Earth. Huge pieces of the earth, if possible. To look out over vast tracts of real estate, woodlands, and fields that are his, all his, is a Taurean's dream. At the very least, a Taurus needs to own his own home ... with as much land surrounding it as he can possibly afford.

This sign works closely with issues of money, income, and ownership all its life, either by putting together a personal fortune (some will be invested wisely "for the future," and some will be spent on the comforts and status symbols that advertise this success to everyone) or by finding itself painfully focused on survival and earning money until it can tap its natural talents and claim the effortless financial flow that can be its birthright.

Taurus is a sign meant to be wealthy, to manipulate and manage material assets, to interact with the physical world. This includes everything from enjoying sensual pleasures, to appreciating fine food, music, and art, to understanding the healing magic of physical touching (and good sex!!), to caring for children, pets, and plants -- watching them grow, develop, and grow up. Taurus loves investments that mature over time. To him, it's the best form of wealth ... and that famous patience can produce a fine harvest.

But there is a downside to even this placid, gentle, companionable sign. Besides the stubbornness, it can be a little too materialistic, extravagant, self-indulgent, and status-and-money-conscious. It can also be disturbingly possessive of people in close relationships in a way that suggests "ownership" quite openly. Thus, it can become seriously jealous -- often over trivia, and it is not above using money as a weapon when there is leverage to gain from that.

Still, its loyalty is legendary. And as a friend, companion, or lover, you could sure do a whole lot worse than having a member of this candid, gracious, congenial sign as the other half of the partnership.